Mackenzie Bellows-Schissel, who lives in Quincy, Ill., and is originally from Calgary, Alberta (Canada), has made a significant mark in the world of soccer both as a player and a coach. Most recently, she was the head women’s soccer coach at Quincy University, an NCAA Division II school in Illinois. In her first two seasons as head coach at Quincy, Mackenzie guided the Hawks to the brink of the GLVC tournament, coming within a win of qualification. Her leadership helped secure two All-GLVC honors for two players, further solidifying her impact on the program.

Growing up, she played for the Calgary Blizzards Soccer Club and was a member of the Canadian Youth National Training Program and competed on the national stage during her youth soccer career. Mackenzie attended Jacksonville State University, where she played NCAA Division I soccer. Over her collegiate career, she played in 76 games, starting 69, finishing with 8 goals and 14 assists and logging over 4,500 minutes played.

After graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education, she transitioned into coaching, beginning as a student-assistant coach at Jacksonville State. Her coaching journey continued as a graduate assistant at William Woods University, where she played a crucial role in leading the Owls to a conference championship with an 11-6-4 record. In 2019, Mackenzie joined Quincy University as a graduate assistant and was later promoted to full-time assistant coach in 2021 while pursuing her Master’s Degree in Education.

With a strong foundation in both playing and coaching, Mackenzie has the tools to help the next generation of soccer talent in their recruiting process.